Couch Flambeau
Encyclopedia
Couch Flambeau is an American punk rock
band, formed in 1981 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. The band is known for the biting wit of their lyrics. They have released three full length albums: Mammal Insect Marriage (1983) on Ludwig Van Ear, The Day the Music Died (1985) and Ghostride (1989) both on It's Only a Record Records. They have also released two tapes, Curiosity Rocks (1982), Rock With Your Sock On (1987) and the EP
, Models (1987). And, finally, a 37 song career overview entitled I Did a Power Slide in the Taco Stand: Anthology 1982-2001 was released in 2004.
Steve Albini
, the famed punk rock
musician and recording engineer, said the group played "good funny music". Albini also played with Tiller in the band Army.
The band line-up as of 2004 was Jay Tiller on vocals and guitar, Neil Socol on bass and Rusty on drums.
The "Curiosity Rocks" cassette release was recorded in 6 hours.
Couch Flambeau was formed by two Greendale, WI High School friends, guitarist Jay Tiller and drummer Ron Faiola (aka Ron Ford/Giant Wow) in 1980. Their first shows were in the fall of 1981 at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's dormortories under the name Couch Potatoes. For these shows, Tiller and Faiola would wear pyjamas and paper bags over their heads while playing early versions songs that ended up on the first Couch Potatoes release, "Curiosity Rocks."
By the spring of 1982, bassist Neil Socol was added to the line up and the Couch Potatoes played an early gig at the Starship, one of only two Milwaukee punk clubs. Two songs ("Mobile Home" and "The Waiter") recorded at that show became DJ favorites on the fledgling college radio station WMSE
. Constant airplay earned the Couch Potatoes a large cult following in Milwaukee, which led to more local shows and the recording of the "Curiosity Rocks" cassette release in the fall of 1982.
Eventually the band decided to replace the name Couch Potatoes (based on characters in a Robert Armstrong
"Mickey Rat" comic book
) with a more "original" name. Faiola came up with Couch Flambeau after seeing a Canadian fire prevention movie where a cat goes looking for "mouse flambeau."
1982 to 1986 was the band's most active years in Milwaukee, headlining clubs and opening concerts for the Violent Femmes
, The Replacements, The Damned and the Butthole Surfers
. They also introduced Evanston, Illinois' Big Black
to Milwaukee audiences at the legendary Cafe Voltaire.
During the Models EP sessions in 1986, Faiola left the band to pursue a film career and Madison, Wisconsin drummer Meredith Young (Appliances SFB) played a few shows with Couch Flambeau until Tiller's art school friend, Joe Hausch joined in late 1986. While Hausch played the live Flambeau shows, Tiller played the drums on studio recordings. Hausch left the band in late 1994 and current drummer Rusty has been with Flambeau since then.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band, formed in 1981 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The band is known for the biting wit of their lyrics. They have released three full length albums: Mammal Insect Marriage (1983) on Ludwig Van Ear, The Day the Music Died (1985) and Ghostride (1989) both on It's Only a Record Records. They have also released two tapes, Curiosity Rocks (1982), Rock With Your Sock On (1987) and the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Models (1987). And, finally, a 37 song career overview entitled I Did a Power Slide in the Taco Stand: Anthology 1982-2001 was released in 2004.
Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, the famed punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
musician and recording engineer, said the group played "good funny music". Albini also played with Tiller in the band Army.
The band line-up as of 2004 was Jay Tiller on vocals and guitar, Neil Socol on bass and Rusty on drums.
The "Curiosity Rocks" cassette release was recorded in 6 hours.
Couch Flambeau was formed by two Greendale, WI High School friends, guitarist Jay Tiller and drummer Ron Faiola (aka Ron Ford/Giant Wow) in 1980. Their first shows were in the fall of 1981 at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's dormortories under the name Couch Potatoes. For these shows, Tiller and Faiola would wear pyjamas and paper bags over their heads while playing early versions songs that ended up on the first Couch Potatoes release, "Curiosity Rocks."
By the spring of 1982, bassist Neil Socol was added to the line up and the Couch Potatoes played an early gig at the Starship, one of only two Milwaukee punk clubs. Two songs ("Mobile Home" and "The Waiter") recorded at that show became DJ favorites on the fledgling college radio station WMSE
WMSE
WMSE is a non-commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, playing a wide-ranging eclectic music format run by volunteer DJ's. The station is part of the Milwaukee School of Engineering .-Early history of MSOE stations:...
. Constant airplay earned the Couch Potatoes a large cult following in Milwaukee, which led to more local shows and the recording of the "Curiosity Rocks" cassette release in the fall of 1982.
Eventually the band decided to replace the name Couch Potatoes (based on characters in a Robert Armstrong
Robert Armstrong
Robert Armstrong may refer to:*Robert Archibald Armstrong , Gaelic lexicographer*Robert Armstrong , American professional baseball player*Robert Armstrong , film actor...
"Mickey Rat" comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
) with a more "original" name. Faiola came up with Couch Flambeau after seeing a Canadian fire prevention movie where a cat goes looking for "mouse flambeau."
1982 to 1986 was the band's most active years in Milwaukee, headlining clubs and opening concerts for the Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
, The Replacements, The Damned and the Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers is an American alternative rock band formed by Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary in San Antonio, Texas in 1981. The band has had numerous personnel changes, but its core lineup of Haynes, Leary, and drummer King Coffey has been consistent since 1983. Teresa Nervosa served as second...
. They also introduced Evanston, Illinois' Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
to Milwaukee audiences at the legendary Cafe Voltaire.
During the Models EP sessions in 1986, Faiola left the band to pursue a film career and Madison, Wisconsin drummer Meredith Young (Appliances SFB) played a few shows with Couch Flambeau until Tiller's art school friend, Joe Hausch joined in late 1986. While Hausch played the live Flambeau shows, Tiller played the drums on studio recordings. Hausch left the band in late 1994 and current drummer Rusty has been with Flambeau since then.
Discography
- "Curiosity Rocks", [tape] (no label), 1982
- "Mammal Insect Marriage", Ludwig Van Ear, 1983
- "Milwaukee Sampler Vol. 1", (song: We'll Go Through The Windshield Together" on various artists comp), Breezeway, 1984
- "The Day the Music Died", It's Only a Record Records, 1985
- "We're Not So Smart/Mississippi Queen" 7", MPAA Records, 1986
- "Models", [EP], It's Only a Record Records, 1987
- "Rock With Your Sock On", [tape] It's Only a Record Records, 1987
- "Ghostride", It's Only a Record Records, 1989
- "Couch Flambeau" (self-titled), unknown label, 1998
- "I Did a Power Slide in a Taco Stand: Anthology 1982–2001", It's Only a Record Records, 2004